Manchester United's Europa League final clash with Ajax on Wednesday night means more than just silverware for the Old Trafford club.

Jose Mourinho's side head to Stockholm this week knowing they must lift the trophy if they are to reach the Champions League next season.

[freebet]

United, who are looking to lift the Europa League for the first time, finished their Premier League campaign in sixth, with Mourinho highlighting the European competition as their most likely path to playing Champions League football.

Ajax meanwhile ended the Eredivisie season in second after losing out to Feyenoord on the last day, but the Dutch giants are already guaranteed a spot in the Champions League play-offs.

However, with a group stage spot on offer, Peter Bosz's side can make their summer schedule a little lighter with victory in Sweden.

This is United and Ajax's fifth meeting in Europe, the past four produced two wins for each side. Ajax were also United’s first-ever opponents in the renamed Europa League in 2011/12, when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side claimed a 3-2 aggregate win in the Round of 32.

Damir Skomina is the man in the middle on Wednesday. The Slovenian presided over the last meeting between these sides, the home leg of that last-32 tie in February 2012, which United lost 2-1 before going through. He also took charge of the Reds’ 1-1 Champions League away draw with Benfica in September 2011 and the 4-2 home win over Bayer Leverkusen two years later.